Crystal structure of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA0423 protein and its functional implication in antibiotic sequestration

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a widely found opportunistic pathogen. The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains and persistent chronic infections have increased. The protein encoded by the pa0423 gene in P. aeruginosa is proposed to be critical for pathogenesis and could be a virulence-promoting protease or a bacterial lipocalin that binds a lipid-like antibiotic for drug resistance. Although two functions of proteolysis and antibiotic resistance are mutually related to bacterial survival in the host, it is very unusual for a single-domain protein to target unrelated ligand molecules such as protein substrates and lipid-like antibiotics. To clearly address the biological role of the PA0423 protein, we performed structural and biochemical studies. We found that PA0423 adopts a single-domain β-barrel structure and belongs to the lipocalin family. The PA0423 structure houses an internal tubular cavity, which accommodates a ubiquinone-8 molecule. Furthermore, we reveal that PA0423 can directly interact with the polymyxin B antibiotic using the internal cavity, suggesting that PA0423 has a physiological function in the antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa.